Shelving unit

ABSTRACT

A shelving unit includes: front support posts; rear support posts; a front cross beam between the front support posts; a rear cross beam between the rear support posts; side cross beams, wherein one of the side cross beams is between one of the front support posts and one of the rear support posts and the other of the side cross beam is between the other of the front support posts and the other of the rear support beams; a bin including a receptacle adapted to receive a wire; and a wire shelf including a support section, wherein the wire shelf is adapted to be supported by the side cross beams either in a flat configuration or an angled configuration, and wherein the wire shelf includes a wire adapted to engage the receptacle when the wire shelf is in an angled configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This United States Patent Application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/236,052, filed Aug. 21, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shelving unit. Typical shelving units have one or more generally horizontal shelves at different elevations for storage of various items, including storage bins. Some storage units have shelves that are angled downwardly from back to front so that bins or other storage items may slide forwardly for easy access. Such shelving units require stopping means for preventing the bins or other stored items from sliding off the front of the unit. Conventional stopping means tend to be complicated, add more expense during manufacturing and/or difficult to assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a shelving unit having a pair of spaced apart generally vertical front supports and a corresponding pair of generally vertical rear supports. Front and rear cross beams extend generally horizontally between the front supports and rear supports respectively. Side cross beams extend between each front support and the corresponding rear support.

The shelving unit includes at least one wire shelf adapted to receive and support one or more bins. The wire shelf is supported by at least two side cross beams and/or the front and rear cross beams in either a generally flat, horizontal configuration or an angled configuration wherein the shelf extends rearwardly and slightly upwardly. The wire shelf includes at least one wire adapted to engage the at least one notch when the wire shelf is in an angled configuration. The shelving unit also includes at least one bin including a bottom wall which has at least one notch adapted to receive a wire of the wire shelf.

Preferably, the wire shelf includes at least two or more wires that may simultaneously engage two or more notches in the bottom wall of the bin. The engagement of one or more the shelf wires and one or more notches of the bin help to stabilize the bin when the shelf is in its angled configuration by preventing unwanted forward sliding movement of the bin, while allowing lateral movement of the bin.

The wire shelf may be adapted to slide forward beyond the at least one front cross beam.

In one embodiment of the invention the shelving unit includes at least two generally vertical front support posts, each front support post including at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member; at least two generally vertical rear support posts, each rear support post including at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member, wherein the front support posts and the rear support posts have similar configurations; at least one generally horizontal front cross beam between the at least two front support posts and including at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; at least one generally horizontal rear cross beam between the at least two rear support posts and including at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; and at least two generally horizontal side cross beams extending between front and rear support posts including at least one slot engaging member at each end. Preferably, the front, rear and side cross beams have similar cross sectional configurations.

The shelving unit includes wire shelves adapted to receive and support a plurality of storage bins. The wire shelf is adapted to be supported by two side cross beams and/or the front and rear cross beams in either a flat configuration or an angled configuration achieved by turning the shelf upside down. The wire shelf includes at least two or more wires that may simultaneously engage two or more notches in the bottom wall of bins when the wire shelf is in its angled configuration. The shelving unit also includes a plurality of bins having a bottom wall which has notches adapted to simultaneously receive two or more wires of the wire shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelving unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a shelving unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a shelf according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is another perspective view of a shelf according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a shelf according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a shelf and bin according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged side view of area I of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is another side view of a shelving unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shelving unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of a shelving unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a shelf according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged perspective view of area II of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is another perspective view of a shelf according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of area III of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a shelf, bins, and side rails according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is an enlarged perspective view of area IV of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an extended shelf, bins, and side rails according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is an enlarged perspective view of area V of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is another enlarged perspective view of area V of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a shelving unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of a shelving unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a shelf according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15B is an enlarged perspective view of area VI of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16A is another perspective view of a shelf according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16B is an enlarged perspective view of area VII of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a view of a shelf, bins, and side rails according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17B is an enlarged view of area VIII of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of an extended shelf, bins, and side rails according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18B is an enlarged view of area IX of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 18C is another enlarged view of area IX of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a bin according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a shelving unit and bins according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a bin according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the bin of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a shelf and the bin of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the drawings is intended as a description of embodiments of a shelving unit in accordance with the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the invention may be constructed or utilized. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers indicate like elements or features.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a shelving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of front support posts 12 and a corresponding pair of rear support posts 10. Front cross beam 14 extend between the front support posts 12 and rear cross beams extend between the rear support posts 10. Side cross beams 18 connect the front support post 12 with its corresponding rear support post 10.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the front cross beam 14, the rear cross beam 16, and the side cross beams 18 are at the same height. In this embodiment, cross beams 14, 16, and 18 support solid shelves 20. wire shelves 22.

The front cross beam 14, the rear cross beam 16, and the side cross beams 18 are attached to the front support posts 12 and the rear support posts 10, respectively, with rivets 15, as shown in FIG. 4. The rivets 15 engage and are seated in holes along the support posts 10, 12, e.g., keyhole shaped holes, so that the cross beams 14, 16, 18 are secured to the support posts 12, 10, at a desired height. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other suitable attachments means may be utilized to attach the cross beams to the support posts, e.g., other slot engaging members and slots such as tabs and arrowhead shaped holes. While boltless attachment is preferred, bolt-type attachments may be used as desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wire shelf 22 is positioned in an angled configuration on the cross beams 14, 16, and 18 so that a support surface of the wire shelf 22 is angled down towards the front cross beam 14. Here, large bins 24 and small bins 26 are positioned on the wire shelf 22 in the angled configuration so that the front ends of the bins 24 and 26 are lower than the rear ends of the bins 24 and 26. Since the bins 24 and 26 are angled forward, the contents of the bins 24 and 26, such as screws, nuts, or other small objects, will slide forward towards the front end of the bins 24 and 26, so that the small objects are easily retrieved.

In FIG. 2, the top wire shelf 22 a is positioned in a flat configuration on the cross beams 14, 16, and 18 so that a support surface of the wire shelf 22 a is generally horizontal and flat, while the bottom wire shelf 22 b is positioned in an angled configuration. Structurally, the top and bottom wire shelves 22 a and 22 b are the same. If the wire shelf 22 is in its angled configuration, the is simply flipped over to achieve its horizontal configuration.

FIG. 3A shows the wire shelf 22 in a horizontal configuration, and FIG. 3B shows the wire shelf in an angled configuration. The wire shelf 22 is generally rectangular and comprises spaced apart longitudinal wires 32 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42 and widthwise wires 23. The widthwise wires 23 are fixed, e.g., by welding, to the longitudinal wires 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42.

The first longitudinal wire 32 extends along the front edge of the wire shelf 22 so that the first longitudinal wire 32 lies on the front cross beam 14 when the wire shelf 22 is in the horizontal configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. The second longitudinal wire 34, third longitudinal wire 36, and fourth longitudinal wire 38 are positioned in a mid section of the wire shelf 22.

The fifth longitudinal wire 40 extends along the rear edge of the wire shelf 22 where the widthwise wires 23 are bent to form a leg 30. When the wire shelf 22 is positioned in a flat configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the fifth longitudinal wire 40 lies on the rear cross beam 16 to support the wire shelf 22, and the leg 30 is a back stop so that objects placed on the wire shelf 22 do not slide off the rear edge of the shelf.

The sixth longitudinal wire 42 is positioned at the upper edge of the leg 30 and attached to the ends of the widthwise wires 23. When the wire shelf 22 is positioned in an angled configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the sixth longitudinal wire 42 lies on the rear cross beam 16 to support the wire shelf 22, and the leg 30 elevates the rearward end of the wire shelf 22.

FIG. 5A shows a large bin 24 on the wire shelf 22, and FIG. 5B shows an enlarged area I of FIG. 5A. Here, the bin 24 has notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 in the bottom wall of the bin 24 that receive and engage the longitudinal wires 34, 36, 38, and 40 of the wire shelf 22 so that the bin 24 does not slide off the wire shelf 22 when the wire shelf 22 is positioned in the angled configuration. For example, the notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 may be in the form of a single groove or slot extending across the width of the bottom wall of the bin 24. Alternatively, the notches may be formed of two or more grooves or slots positioned along a widthwise line along the bottom wall of the bin 24. The notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as a semi-circular, triangular or rectangular shape. Likewise, the longitudinal wires, 34, 36, 38, and 40, may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as a circular shaped as shown in FIG. 5B or may be triangular, rectangular or the like.

Further, the notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 are positioned at intervals along the longitudinal of the bin 24 so that two or more of the notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 may simultaneously engage two or more of the longitudinal wires 34, 36, 38, and 40. Therefore, the position of the bin 24 relative to the wire shelf 22 may be adjusted. For example, the bin 24 may be positioned towards the rear of the wire shelf 22 when the bin 24 does not need to be accessed, and the bin 24 may be positioned towards the front of the wire shelf 22 when the bin 24 needs to be accessed, as shown in FIG. 6.

It is understood that the number and spacing of the longitudinal and widthwise wires may be varied as desired. It is also understood that the shelving unit may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., metal and/or plastic.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the shelving unit with an adjustable wire shelf 122. FIG. 7 shows an upper and a lower wire shelf 122, both in a storage position, and FIG. 8 shows the lower wire shelf 122 in an extended position, where the wire shelf 122 has been pulled forwarded so that bins 24 positioned on the wire shelf 122 extend beyond the front of the shelving unit for easier access to the bins 24. As in the previous embodiment, the wire shelf 122 may be mounted in a generally horizontal configuration (as shown by the upper wire shelves) or an angled configuration (as shown by the lower wire shelves). Here, the wire shelf 122 is shown supported by two side cross beams 118, where the side cross beam 118 extends between a front support post 12 and a rear support post 10 on each side of the shelving unit.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the wire shelf 122 may be supported by a front cross beam 14, a rear cross beam 16, and two side cross beams 18, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 9A shows the wire shelf 122 in a generally horizontal configuration, and FIG. 9B shows an enlarged area II of FIG. 9A. The first longitudinal wire 132 lies along the front edge of the wire shelf 122. In this embodiment, a front edge section of the wire shelf 122 is bent downwardly, as shown in FIG. 9A, and hangs over the top of the front cross beam 14 when the wire shelf 122 is in the flat configuration. Since the first longitudinal wire 132 is below the top of the front cross beam.

Longitudinal wire 140 is at the rearward edge of the wire shelf 122 where the widthwise wires 123 are bent upwardly to form a leg 130. Longitudinal wire 142 is positioned at the upper edge of the leg 130 and is attached to the ends of the widthwise wires 123. In this embodiment of the present invention, there may or may not be a front cross beam 14 or a rear cross beam 16 positioned at the level of the wire shelf 122.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show the wire shelf of FIGS. 9A and 9B flipped over into the angled configuration. In FIG. 11A, the wire shelf 122 is shown in a non-extended position. FIG. 11B shows an enlarged area IV of FIG. 11A. Here, the rearward weight of wire shelf 122 is supported by a side support wire 144 lying on a generally horizontal ledge 119 of side cross beam 118. In this position, the forward weight of the wire shelf 122 is supported by the lateral bottom corners of the front edge section of the wire shelf 122 which lie on the ledges 119 of the side cross beams 118.

Further, since longitudinal wire 132 is at the top of the front edge section of the wire shelf 122 which extends upwardly from longitudinal wire 133 in the angled configuration as shown in FIG. 11A, bins 24 positioned on the wire shelf 122 are prevented from sliding off the front of the wire shelf 122.

In FIG. 12A, the wire shelf 122 is shown in an extended position. FIGS. 12B and 12C show an enlarged area V of FIG. 12B. As the wire shelf 122 is extended forward beyond the front of the shelving unit, the front weight of the wire shelf 122 is no longer supported by engagement of the lateral bottom corners of the front edge section of the wire shelf 11 with the ledge 119. Here, the end of longitudinal wire 142 extends under the ledge 119. This prevents upward movement of the longitudinal wire 142 which, in turn, prevents the front end of the wire shelf 122 from rotating or tipping downwardly.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another embodiment of the shelving unit with an adjustable wire shelf 222. FIG. 13 shows the wire shelves 222 in a storage position, and FIG. 14 shows one of the wire shelves 222 in an extended position. As in the previous embodiment, the wire shelf 222 may be positioned in a flat configuration or an angled configuration. Here, the wire shelf 222 is shown supported by two side cross beams 18.

FIG. 15A shows the wire shelf 222 in a horizontal configuration, and FIG. 15B shows an enlarged area VI of FIG. 15A. FIG. 16A shows the wire shelf 222 in an angled configuration, and FIG. 16B shows an enlarged area VII of FIG. 16A. In FIG. 17A, the wire shelf 222 is shown in a non-extended position. FIG. 17B shows an enlarged area VIII of FIG. 17A. In FIG. 18A, the wire shelf 222 is shown in an extended position. FIGS. 18B and 18C show an enlarged area IX of FIG. 18A.

In this embodiment, the structure of wire shelf 222 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B and 12C, except that the longitudinal wires 142 have a bend at their lateral ends to enable use with side cross beams having a Z-beam style cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIGS. 17B and 18C.

Z-beam style cross beams have a generally vertical upper front wall, a generally horizontal support wall 19A extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the upper front wall and an angled wall 19B extending from the inner edge of the support wall at a downward and forward angle. Here, the rear weight of wire shelf 222 is supported by side support wires 244 on support walls 19A of the side cross beams 18.

As the wire shelf 222 is extended forward beyond the front of the shelving unit, the front of the wire shelf 222 is no longer supported by the front edge of the wire shelf 222 In this embodiment, the end of longitudinal wire 242 is bent so that it extends under the angled wall 19B of the side cross beam 18 to prevent the longitudinal wire 242 from moving upwardly which, in turn, prevents the front weight of the wire shelf 222 from rotating or tipping the front of the wire shelf 222 downwardly.

FIG. 19 shows a bin 24 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 in the bottom wall of the bin 24 receive and engage the longitudinal wires of the wire shelf so that the bin 24 does not slide off the wire shelf when the wire shelf is positioned in the angled configuration. For example, the notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 may be in the form of a single groove or slot extending across the width of the bottom wall of the bin 24.

Alternatively, the notches may be formed of two or more grooves or slots positioned along a widthwise line along the bottom wall of the bin 24. That is, the notches may not extend across the entire width of the bin. For example, either side of the bin may have one or more downward projections that have one or more notches adapted to engage the longitudinal wires of a wire shelf. The notches 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as a hook, semi-circular, triangular or rectangular shape.

Further, the bin 24 may have at least one hook 500 positioned along the width of the top of the back wall of the bin 24. The hook 500 may have a slot 502 adapted to engage, or hook over, a front longitudinal wire of the wire shelf, e.g., first longitudinal wire 132, when the wire shelf is in the angled configuration. Here, the bin 24 may be positioned in front of the shelving unit so that the contents of the bin 24 are easily accessible.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 20-23, a bin 524 has at least one hook 604 extending along a lower rear width of the bin 524 that is adapted to hook over a longitudinal wire, e.g., longitudinal wires 140, 138, 136, and 134. However, the hook 604 may have slots 606 that accommodate the widthwise wires 123. That is, the slots 606 allow the hook 604 to be securely seated about the longitudinal wire and the widthwise wires 123. Further, the bin 524 may also have a hook 600 with a slot 602 adapted to engage a front longitudinal wire of the wire shelf.

Although the present invention has been described through the use of exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents appended hereto. For example, aspects shown above with particular embodiments may be combined with or incorporated into other embodiments. 

1. A shelving unit for supporting bins comprising: at least two generally vertical front support posts, each front support post comprising at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member; at least two generally vertical rear support posts, each rear support post comprising at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member, wherein the front support posts and the rear support posts have similar configurations; at least one generally horizontal front cross beam between the at least two front support posts and comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; at least one generally horizontal rear cross beam between the at least two rear support posts and comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; at least two generally horizontal side cross beams comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot, wherein at least one of the at least two side cross beams is between one of the at least two front support posts and one of the at least two rear support posts and at least the other of the at least two side cross beams is between the other of the at least two front support posts and the other of the at least two rear support beams, and wherein the at least one front cross beam, the at least one rear cross beam, and the at least two side cross beams have similar configurations; at least one bin comprising at least one receptacle adapted to receive a wire; and at least one wire shelf comprising a support section adapted to receive the at least one bin, wherein the wire shelf is adapted to be supported by at least the at least two side cross beams in either a flat configuration or an angled configuration, and wherein the wire shelf comprises at least one wire adapted to engage the at least one receptacle when the wire shelf is in an angled configuration.
 2. A shelving unit for supporting bins comprising: at least two generally vertical front support posts, each front support post comprising at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member; at least two generally vertical rear support posts, each rear support post comprising at least one column of slots along its length adapted to receive at least one slot engaging member, wherein the front support posts and the rear support posts have similar configurations; at least one generally horizontal front cross beam between the at least two front support posts and comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; at least one generally horizontal rear cross beam between the at least two rear support posts and comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end adapted to engage a slot; at least two generally horizontal side cross beams comprising at least one slot engaging member at each end, wherein at least one of the at least two side cross beams is between one of the at least two front support posts and one of the at least two rear support posts and at least the other of the at least two side cross beams is between the other of the at least two front support posts and the other of the at least two rear support beams, and wherein the at least one front cross beam, the at least one rear cross beam and the at least two side cross beams have similar configurations; at least one bin comprising at least one receptacle adapted to receive a wire; and at least one wire shelf comprising a support section adapted to receive the at least one bin, wherein the wire shelf is adapted to be supported by at least the at least two side cross beams in either a flat configuration or an angled configuration, wherein the wire shelf comprises at least one wire adapted to engage the at least one receptacle when the wire shelf is in an angled configuration, and wherein the wire shelf is adapted to slide forward beyond the at least one front cross beam. 